When someone dies, their identity becomes a target. Scammers mine obituaries, open credit cards, and file tax returns in the deceased's name. Here's what to lock down — and when.
The threats nobody warns you about, and how to shut them down
Approximately 2.5 million deceased individuals fall victim to identity theft annually. Fraudsters use obituary information to open credit cards, file tax returns, and claim benefits in a deceased person’s name. The FTC reported over 1.1 million identity theft cases in 2024 alone—and the recently deceased are among the easiest targets because the theft often goes undetected for months.
